irvin



April 19 1927.

l.. lr.. lRvlN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING PARACHUTD sHROuD LINES Filed May l5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y w MDDIDDI atto: new

1,625,725 April 19 1927' L. l.. lRvlN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING PARACHUTE SHROUD LINES Patented Apr.. fit?,

Application filed May 15, i925.

This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for the production o'i parachute shroud lilies.

The priuuiiw' ohjcct ol" this invention is lhe provision ot' improved means and a novel iuethod tor accuratelyY producing at the same time the entire numher ot shroud lines for a parachute. so that they will have siniifar characteristics as to length and elongation under tension.

lt is ex'tren'iel)Y dill'icult to provide shroud lines ot equal lengths which may he nccuratcliY attached to the chute. or holly ot the parachute. and which shroud lines will hang in the olea ttor equal lengths. This is primarilyv so hecause` ot the huge size of parachutes` and because ot the 'l'act that usualliY it is impossible to place the shroud lines under the proper tension tor cutting` the saine to the saine lenirths with the proper markings. lt is therefore an object ot this invention to provide the entire number ot shroud lines vfor a single parachute at the saine operation, quickly and with ease. with the proper marl:- inejs thereon tor accurate attachment at predetermined points on the chute portion and aviators harness.

lleretot'ore it has heen usual tor an operator to measure the shroud lines into lengths and place the proper .markings on the shroud lines where the saine are to he attached or cut. This method is. however, not satisfactory 1eecaiise ot the 'tact that when under tension the shroud lines may Vary from the equality ot lengths in which they were previouslyv cut. It is theretorc an important object ot this invention to produce shroud lines for parachutes after a novel method, hy which a predetermined quant/iti* ot lining material sul'licient to produce the entire numher ot shroud lines t'or :i single parachute is subjected to a tensionincxl 'at every point throughout its length, to render the sanie tant. In such taut position the shroud lines are then marked for cutting` and attachment. and suhsequentl)7 applied to the chute or aviators harness as the case ma)T he.

Other ohjects and advanhufes ot this invention will he apparent during' the course ot the 'Following' detailed description.

ln the acconipanlvinel drawings` forming' :i lpart ot this speciticatiini. and wherein similar reference characters designate cor- QFFCE.

resigionding parts throughout the several views.

ure l is a plan View of the improved apparatus, showiiur iahle or cord material p uiced upon :he apparatus in proper rela.- lion to provide the entire nuuiher oli shroud lines Yfor a sina'le parachute.

Figure 2 is an enla rged fragmentary plan vew ol` the details illustrated in Figure l, showing' more i)arliicularl),v and specifically the relative arrangement oi" parts.

ifie'ure l is a `side elevation of the details ilus ted in Figure Q.

litigare `llA is a View somewhat diagrammaticriily illustrating a single shroud line alter the saine hasheen cut, with the proper mai-kine' tl'iereon showing attaching points h r ineens ot which the same may heapplied to. the hodv ot the parachute or to the :wiators harness.

iiicure is an ex ended View ot the shroud tine illustrated in lliiure Ll.

Figure (i is a sectional View taken through :i tric ot' roller ahout which the shroud lines are trained incident to their tensioning and production. I

lligure 'l' is an enlarged fragmentary View taken through a part et the apparatus, showing more particularly the means for attachinn' the ends ot the shroiul cord material upon the apparatus.

lliggurc 8 is a cross sectional View talten through a parachute. showing more partielllarly the arrangement which a single shroud Eine has in connection with the chute of the pzu'achute and an aviators harness.

lu the drawiufi's wherein `tor the purpose o i illustration i: .hewn onlyY a preferred elniment oit the apparatus h v n'ieans of which shroud lines are produced, the letter A may .conci-ally designate such apparatus, which may consists o'tf a sup orting table memler ll: roller ine-ans C iixed thereon; Slidahle roier means l) provided thereon: and means 'l Vfor moving;v the roller means D over the tahle l): to render the line or cord material lP taut prior to the niarltinn' ot the saine vi'or the production ot the shroud lines.

.llach oi the shroud .ueiihers H is placed upon the parzicluile so as to provide a, iliortion V11 '.oted YFor attachment to l \'\\'(\l` a hucltle if or the like ot' the suspension strap: the side portion i7 in the clear, which at its upper end is attached at 1S to The shroud cordage is preferably supplied upon reels in quantity sutcient to supply all of the shroud lines `for one parachute. 'lhis reel 80 is rotatablyv mounted upon the tableI B between the shaft or drum 66 and the movable shroud cord engaging device D.

As to the application of the cord upon the apparatus A, the operator starts the cord at one of the cord fastening devices G, at an end otl the bar adjacent the rcel 80, by tying a knot in the extreme end of the cord and slipping the cord through the slot (it) till the knot abuts the outer side ol the bolt head 59. as is illustrated in Figure T. The operator then runs the cord to the opposite end of the table to one of the anti-friction roller devices 35, trains the same around the roller 47 thereof, and returns the cord to the lirst roller adjacent to that device 56 to which the cord has been fastened. The cord is then trained in parallel lengths back and forth in zig-zag relation between the roller projections of the fixed arrangement C and the movable arrangen'ient D` until all ot the rollers have been used, and the cord at its opposite end is then knotted and atlixed to `the other fastening device 56 in the manner above described. All ot the cord from the reel is thus placed upon the apparatus A, and there are just twice as manjv parallel lengths' ot the cord extending between the devices C and D as there are shroud cords to be provided for one parachute. In other words, each shroud line includes two ot the lengths positioned on the apparatus A prior to severing of the shroud lines from each other.

The cord having` been unwound from the reel and placed as above mentioned the operator proceeds to rotate the crank 68 to wind the steel cable upon the shatt or drinn 66, and this pulls the bar 55 toward the shatt 66, and which will of course place the cord lengths under tension. The crank is rotated until the scale 'TO registers the proper' tension. and the pawl or detent 76 is then lslipped against the teeth of the ratchet wheel to hold the cords under this tension while the cords are being marked. Under this tension the operator marks the cords at the peripheryv of each otl the rollers 60, ot' the slidable arrangement D, with a marking such as red crayon, and which marking designates the points ot' severance tor the provision ot the shroud lines of proper length. It can readily be understood that since each ot the lengths of cord extending between the lixed and movable arrangements C and D respectivelvv are under the same tension. the said marks placed upon the cord at the peripheries ot the rollers (SO will subdivide the shroud lines into similar lengths under conditions which will insure that all of the shroud lines will be olf the saine length when they are severed from each other upon these marks.

Pins 9() and Ul are detachably mounted in apertures provided in the table or board B, at opposite sides o'f the table or support B, and against; these pins a guide bar or memw ber 92 is adapted to be placed. providing a straight edge U3 extending at right angles to thc run of the shroud lines over the table B. This guide bar 92 is ot course disposed below the parallel lengths olf cordage, and it is relativeljY simple for an operator to run a blue crayon or other marking device along the edge 93 to mark each length ol. cord material extending between the tixed and mov able devices (l and D respectively. lVhen these marks have been placed the bar 92 is moved to another location tor marking. The marks placed bv the ope 'ator at the above mentioned location are at the iuncture pointsl between thc portions lt and 1i and the portions 8l and 30 of each shroud line H, and these marks have been designated at 95 in Figures l and 5 ol the dranf'ings.

VA\'t`tcr making thc marks 95 thc guide bar or member fr.) is movcd to a point closer to the roller arrangement C, where the pins1 90 and Slt ma \Y hc placed iu apertures 9G and the bar 92 extended against said pins to place thc straight edge 91% at right angles to the lengths of shroud material, and the operator ma)v then draw his marking pencil or element across the `shroud lines to place the markings which have been indicated by ret-- crcncc characters 9T in Figures l and 5 ot the drawings, and which characters Sli designate the points ot' connection o l" the portions li' and l5); and portions 25 ant 30 of each shroud line ll.

From its location against the pins in apertures 9H thc guide bar 9:? is next moved to a position inumdiateljiv adjacent the roller devices 35. against the detachable pins fl() and 91 which majv he placed in apertures n), positioning the said guide rod or member 92 at right angles to the lengths ot cord, and the operator then moves his pencil across the straight edge 93 for marking each lcngth ol line on thesupport B with marks 100, which determine the juncture points oi the portion 2l with the portions 19 and 25 of each shroud line H.

The distance across the vent opening l2 ot the parachute is practicall) the same in all cases. and the shroud line l-l Atrom one mark lo() thereon to the other mark l0() thcrcon is practically 1S; inches. 'llherefore7 tht` openingsV` 99 ma)Y be placed at a predetermined distance with respect to tha` trans- 'crse aligmnent ol" the roller arrangement C. llowevcr, as the diameters ot the chutes l1 ma) var v trom time to time. it can readilyY bc understood that the marking points 9T may vary, and to this end other openings in tensioning a length of cord, marking the same while under tension at predetermined equi-spaced points, marking the same while under tension with contrasting marks at points on the cord between said equi-spaced points, and subsequently severing the cord at said equi-spaced points only into a plurality of lengths of shroud cords.

7. That method o'tl producing a predetermined number ot shroud lines from a continuous length of cord which consists in winding the cord into a plurality oi adjacently disposed non-crossing and non-abut ting lengths, placing the cord while disposed in said lengths under an equal tension throughout the entire length of the cord, and severing the cord into the lengths as they are provided at the time of tensioning of the cord.

S. That method ot' producing shroud lines from a continuous length ot' cord which consists in training the cord zig-ag into a plurality ot' lengths of material between a series ot fixed and a series ot movable members, moving the movable members to ltension the lengths thus produced, and subdividmg the material by cutting it at predetermined points.

9. That method of producing a plurality of shroud lines from a continuous length ot cord which consists in training the length ot' cord zig-zag alternately between a series of xed and a series of movable members, [ixing the ends oi said cord, moving the movable members away from the tilted members to tension the cord, and subsequently at eertain indicated points severing the cord.

l0. That method of producing shroud lines for paraehut-es which consists in taking a continuous length of cord, training the same Zig-Zag alternately between a series ot l'ixed and a series of movable members, securing the ends of said cord, moving the movable, members away l'rom said liked members to tension the cord, marking the cord at predetermined points, and severing the cord on said marks to subdivide the same into a plurality of shroud lines ot equal lengths.

1l. That method oi producing shroud lines for parachutes which consists in taking a continuous length of cord, training the cord alternately between two series o't' relatively movable members to provide adjacent lengths of the cord, moving one series oit members away from the other series of members to tension the cord lengths so wound about said members, and severing the cord lengths at certain indicated points with respect to said relatively movable members.

12. That method ot producing shroud lines of equal lengths from a length ot cord material which consists in training the cord material Zig-Zag alternately between two series ot relatively movable members, securing the ends of said lengths ot cord material, moving one series of members away from the other to tension the lengths of said cord between one series of members and the other series of members, placing marks at prcdetern'iined points on said lengths ot' the imiterial between said series of members, and subsequently severing the cord material on certain ot' said marks to subdivide the same into a plurality of shroud lines of equal lengths.

lf3. That method of providing shroud lines for parachutes which consists in providing a continuous length ot cord material, training said cord material zig-Zag from one series olf members about another series of members into a plurality ot' parallel lengths, relatively moving the series of members awa)1 from each other to tension the lengths oi cord between one series ot' members and the other series of members, placing marks at the ends of the said lengths of cord at the members ot one ot said series, placing other marks on the lengths ot cord between said series ol*I members at predetermined distances with respect to said series ot members, and subsequently severing the cord on the marks first made to subdivide the same intoa plurality of shroud lines of equal lengths.

lli. That method o'l producing shroud lines which consists in tensioning a shroud line equally throughout its length and while under tension placing marks at predetermined spaced points thereon where the same is to be attached to the body of the parachute.

l5. rlhat method ol designating the attaching points ot' shroud lines which consists in placing a shroud line under equal tension throughout its length, and while so tensioned placing marks thereon at the points where the shroud line is to be attached to the parachute body and aviators harness.

16. That method of producing shroud lines tor a parachute which consists in arranging a continuous length of cord zig-zag into a plurality oit parallel lengths of cord material, tensioning the same uniformly throughout their lengths, and while said cord is so tensioned designating thereon the severing points ot' said cord to provide a plurality ot shroud lines.

17. That method ot producing and tensioning shroud lines ot' parachutes which consists in taking a continuous length of cord, training the same zig-Zag alternately between one series of members and another series ot members, fixing the ends ot said length ot cord with respect to said series of members, moving the two series of members relatively apart to tension the lengths of cord material between said two series of members to a predetermined tension, marking said lengths of cord material atpredetermined points while under tension, re-

ll l) inaavae leasing the tension, and severing the cord on certain oi"- said marks into a plurality ot equal length shroud lines.

18. In an apparatus oit the class described the combination ot a support, a pair or series ol relatively movable members associated with said support, a flexible length of cord, means for lining the ends ot the length ot the cord with respect to said series of members with the said cord wound Zig-Zag and alternately trom the one series of members about the other series of members thus subdividiiiig the said cord into a plurality of lengths ot cord, and means for moving the one series of members away troni the other seri oi members to tension said lengths oi cord.

lll. In an apparatus or the class described 'the combination olf` a support, a pair of series of relatively movable members carried by said support, a cord adapted to be wound zigzag trom the members olf one series to the members ot the other series to subdivide the cord into a plurality ot lengths ot material, and means .tor moving the series apart thereby placing said lengths ot cord between the same under tension.

ill), In an apparatus ol1 the class described the combination of a support, and a pair oli series ot' relatively movable members carried by said support, a cord adapted to be wound zig-Zag trom the. niembers ot' one series to the members of the other series to subdivide the cord into a plurality ot lengths of material, means 'for moving the series apart thereby pl cing the lengths or' cord between the same underftension, and means to 'facilitate marking the lengths ol cord at predetermined points.

ill. In an. apparatus of the class described the combination of a support, a pair oit series ot relatively movable members carried by said support, a cord adapted to be Wound zig-zag trom the members olf one series to the members of the other series to subdivide the cord into a plurality ot' lengths ot material, means -l'or moving the series apart thereby placing the lengths or cord between the same under tension, and means to facilitate marking the lengths ot cord at predetermined points between the pair olL series otmembers.

22. In au apparat-us for rnoducing` shroud lines the combination ot a support, two ries ot relatively movable men'ibers associated with said support., marking guide means associated with said support between said two series of members, and means l'for mov ing the series ot members toward and away from each other.

23. In an apparatus ot the class described the combination ot a support, a plurality of lined projections carried as a series b v said support, a plurality ot projections carried as a series and movable with respect 'to said support, ,said projections olf the lined and movable series being adapted to receive a length ot cord in zig-Zag relation therebetween thus subdividing the length oit cord into a plurality olf lengths, and means ifor moving said movable series ot' projections to place the lengths or' cord under a preden termined tension.

2l. In an apparatus ot the class described the combination of a support, a plurality oil lined projections carried a series by said support, a plurality ot projections carried as a series and movable with respect to said support, said projections oli the fixed and movable series being` adapted to receive a length ot cord in Zig-zag relation therebetween thus subdividing the length ot cord into a plurality olf lengths, means ttor movingl said movable series oit projections to place the lengths ot cord under a predctcrmined tension, and guide means zulsrusiatcrl vith the support between said lined and movable se ries ot projectionf-i to 'l'lxcilitate marking the lengths ot cord at predetermined points.

25. In an apparatus for deterniining lengths ol'" cord an elongated support, a plurality ot lived cord receiving` members ai ranged in a series transversely oit said support, a bar movable on said support, a plurality ot' cord receiving members carried by said bar, and means IoiI n'ioving the bar along the support.

2li. ln an apparatus Vlor producing shroud lines an elongated support, a plurality or lined members arranged in a series transversely ol" said support, a bar movable on said support, a phirality ot members carried by said bar, means 'for movingthe bar along the support, and a n'lovable marker guide associated. with said support between said fined and movable n'iembers.

il?. In apparatus ior producing and marl;- ing shroud lines 'for parachutes the con'ibination olf a support, a device on the support tor movably receiving length of cord intermediate its ends, a second device relatively movable on the support with respect to the lirst mentioned device tor also receiving the length ot cord thereover in elidable relation at a plurality ot points on the second device, means for relatively moving the devices towards or away 'from each other, and means for holding the ends ot the cord so that as the devices are moved away trom each other the cord will be rendered taut to provide a plurality ot cords olf equal lengths extend ing between said devices.

28. In apparatus ot the class described a support, means on the support for arranging a continuous length ot cord taut thereover in a plurality ot parallel lengths of cord, pins carried by the support, and a guide bar associated with said pins for placement at right angles to the lengths ot cord and beneath said lengths otl cord whereby an oper- Sli lll!) ator may run a pencil along said bar for marking the lengths ot cord accurately at predetermined distances thereon.

Q9. In apparatus ot' the class described an elongated support, a series ot rollers fixed at one end ot said supportA` a bar transversely positioned on the support ttor movement longitudinally ot' the support, rollers carried by said bar, means at the ends ot said bar tor fixing the ends ot' a length ot' cord to the bar with the cord wound alternately 'from the rollers fixed on the support to the rollers on said movable bar to subdivide the length ot' cord into a plurality ot parallel lengths over said support, a shaft member rotatably carried by the support, a cable extending from the shaft to said bar adapted upon rotation o't the sha't't to wind on the salue for moving the bar along the support away from said rollers fixed with respect to said support, means for holding the shaft in a predetermined position to maintain the cord lengt-h tensioned, and means to guide the marking of said cord lengths at prede termined points along their lengths.

30. In apparatus for the provision ot shroud cords for parachutes the combination ot' an elongated support, two series ot relatively movable members mounted at opposite ends ot' said support, means for relatively moving said members towards or away from each other, a cord secured at its ends and wound zigzag` between said two series of members to provide a plurality of lengths ot cord extending along said sup`- port, a straight edge transversely arranged across said support beneath said lengths ot cord, and means for adjustably moving said straight edge to various positions along said support into predetermined relation with said lengths ot cord to facilitate marking thereo't in predetermined spaced relation with said series ot movable members.

LESLIE L. IRVIN. 

